URL Encoder & Decoder
Percent-encode and decode URLs, and break down query strings.
Component mode encodes every reserved character (like / ? & =) — use it for a single query value or path segment.
Text or URL
Encoded
The result appears here as you type
About the URL Encoder/Decoder
Encode text so it's safe to put in a URL, or decode percent-encoded strings like hello%20world back into readable text. Results update live as you type, and non-English characters and emoji are handled correctly as UTF-8.
Paste a full URL and DevNest also breaks it down into its protocol, host, path and fragment, and lists every query parameter with its decoded value.
How to use the URL Encoder/Decoder
- 1
Choose a direction
Select Encode to make text URL-safe, or Decode to turn percent-encoding back into text.
- 2
Pick the scope
Use Component for a single value or path segment, or Full URL to keep characters like / ? & intact.
- 3
Paste your text
The result appears instantly. Turn on form encoding if spaces should be written as +.
- 4
Inspect the URL
For full URLs, check the breakdown and query parameter table, and copy any value.
Frequently asked questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding, also called percent-encoding, replaces characters that aren't allowed or have special meaning in URLs with a % sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20 and é becomes %C3%A9.
What's the difference between Component and Full URL mode?
Component mode (encodeURIComponent) encodes every reserved character, including / ? & = and #, so use it for individual query values or path segments. Full URL mode (encodeURI) leaves those structural characters alone so a complete URL still works.
Should spaces be %20 or +?
In most of a URL, spaces are encoded as %20. In HTML form submissions (application/x-www-form-urlencoded), spaces in the query string are written as +. Turn on form encoding to use + for spaces and to decode + back into spaces.
Why do I get an error when decoding?
The input contains a % sign that isn't followed by two valid hexadecimal digits, or a sequence that isn't valid UTF-8. A literal percent sign must itself be encoded as %25.
Is URL encoding the same as encryption?
No. URL encoding only makes text safe to include in a URL. Anyone can decode it, so it provides no security or privacy.
More free developer tools
JSON Formatter
Beautify, minify and validate JSON instantly as you type.
Base64 Encoder/Decoder
Convert text to Base64 and back, with full Unicode support.
UUID Generator
Generate random v4 UUIDs — one or many — in the format you need.
JWT Decoder
Decode JSON Web Tokens to inspect the header, payload and expiry.
Timestamp Converter
Convert Unix timestamps to dates and dates to timestamps.
Hash Generator
Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 hashes of text or files.
Regex Tester
Test regular expressions with live match highlighting and groups.